Pin-setting device



Aug. 11, 1925. 1,549,342

A. WICHERTJES PIN SETTING DEVICE Filed June 30, 1924 5 Sheet-2451166?. l

"Aug M1925. l,549,342

` A. WICHERTJES PIN SETTING DEVI GE Filed June 30, 1924 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Aug. 11, 1925. 1,549,342

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Patented Aug'. il,

ABEND WICHERTJ'ES, 0F CHICAGO, ILLENQS.

Pili-SETTING DEVICE.

Application led June 30, 1924. Serial No. 723,072.

To all whom. it may concern Be it known that l, AREND `Wionnn'rJns, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Chicago, inthe county of Cook and State of t illinois, have invented certain new and useful improvements in a Pin-Setting Device, of which the following is a specification. This invention relates to new and useful improvements in'pin setting devices which l0 are used in connection with bowling alleys" for automatically settingV the pins on the al-` ley in the p another. One of the important objects of my invention is to provide a vertically movable frame for carrying the pins and adapted upon impact with the alley to cause the egress ofthe pins from the carrier onto the alley in proper standing relation. l

Another important object of the invention is to provide a vertically movable carrier with means for maintainingthe same in a horizontal plane throughout` its vertical movements, both in a lateral direction and in a fore and aft direction, whereby said carrier will, with certainty, maintain its parallel relation with the alley at the time the pins are being discharged from the carrier onto the alley.

vFor the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my inventionV l have illustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof, from inspection of which, when considered with the following description my invention and many of its inherent advantages should be readily underrstood and appreciated.

proper positions relative to one Referring to the drawings which ilius` trate one form of my invention,-

Figure l is a side elevation of a pin set ting device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 is a top plan View thereof,

Figure 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view of the pin carrier,

Figure fl is an enlarged view of the supporting frame,

Figure is a detail cross-sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Fig. il,

Figure 6 is a similar view, but talren on the line S--5 of Figure t,

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on the line 7-7 of Figure 4c, and

Figure 8 is a perspective view of one of the pin guides carried by the frame.

Referring in detail to the accompanying drawings- Y I have provided a vertically movable pin setting frame A and a support B therefor.

The pin setting frame A is substantially triangular in a plan View and includes a supporting wall 5 having an open bottom 6. A horizontal shelf is disposed within and supported by the wall 5 `and this shelf 7 is formed with a plurality of openings 8 for permitting the egress of the pins as will be hereinafter explained. Disposed within each of these openings 8' is a tubular pin guide 9, the longitudinal axis thereof being disposed vertically. This tubular guide is formed intermediate its ends with a supporting ange l0 which rests upon and is secured to the shelf 7. Thus the guide 9 projects above and below said shelf, the lower edge il of said guide terminating above the bottom of the wall 5. rll`he upper portion of the guide 9 is out away as at l2 to form a mouth for receiving the associated pin 13. rihe mouths formed by the cut away portions 12 all open toward the rear so as to permit an operator who stands in rear of the carrier to readily position the butt ends of the' pins into said mouths of said guide.

ri`he upper end of the wall 5 extends above the shelf Y but terminates below the upper end of the guide 9, and seated upon the wall 5 is a second shelf le which is formed with a plurality of elongated openings l5, the iongitudinal axes of said openings l5 extending fore and aft of the carrier. in order to teinporarily support the pins 13 with their butt ends iying within the upper portions of the guide 9, l have provided spring seats for the respective pins. To this end there is disposed in the rear end of these openings l5 a ringer 16 which is hingedly connected at its rearend to the shelf lli. This iinger 16 is disposed between the opening 15 and the upper portion of the associated guide 9 and? is normally held in a substantially horizontal plane, by a spring 18 said spring being disposed under the ingerand tending to norlOO mally urge the same upwardly. The shelf 14 is disposed in spaced relation to theshelf 7 and consequently a space is provided for permittin the spring controlled finger or seat 16 toe moved downwardly against the tension of the spring 18. lSeated upon the shelf 14 is a top plate 19 and this plate is formed with a plurality of elongated openings 20 which register with the respective gu1des9 and openings 15. The major axes of these openings 20 lie in a fore and aft plane and the length of each opening 20 is a trifle shorter than thelength of the associated pin so as to permit the pm to rest upon the plate 19. p

From the foregoing it will be seen that the pins are positioned on the carrier as shown in Figure 3, the butt lend of each pin head of the l being disposed within the upper portion of the tubular guide 9, the intermediate por-4 tion of the pin resting upon the spring seat 16 and the head of the pin resting upon the l top plate 19. After all of the pins have been 'thus positioned. upon the carrier frame, the frame is lifted and then dropped onto the lloor of the alley. Meansare proframe in a horizontal vprovide means for vertica y lifting said carvided for supporting the frame during its vertical movements so as to maintain said frame in a. horizontal plane both in a lateral direction and also in a fore and aft direction. Thus, 'after the frame has been lifted and released it will drop by gravity onto the loor of the alley, the frame engag- -ing the floor at all points simultaneously.-

This im act between the frame and the iloor causes t e seats '16' to be depressed due to the weight ofthe pins thereon, and the pins` rier, I'have provided the support B. This support B includes a front pair of standards 21 and 21 and a rear pair of 'standards 22 and 22. Each of the front `standards 21 preferably fconsists of front and rear uprights 23 and 24. These standards are preferalblyA attached to the side walls 25 of the bowling alley. The front standards 21 and 21 are suitablyy braced 'by cross braces 26 and 26 so as lto hold the support from lateral movement and by a brace 27 for preventing movements of the frame in a fore and aft direction. i

Supported upon the frontend rear standards 1s a pair of supporting arms 28- and 28. which extend longitudinally of the bowling -the' other end of the cable 38 bein frame will with certainty be disposed 1n parl allel lrelation to the floor at the time of impact therewith. To this end the frame'A is provided with a pair of upwardly extending arms 29 and 29 which have vertical sliding engagements with the front pair of standards 21 and 21. Fixedly secured to the upper portion of each standard 21 is a rack bar 30 and journaled on 'the upper end of each arm 29 is a pinion 31,the pinions 31 engaging with the rackl bars 30. -Fixedly secured to the lower portion of each arm 29 is a rack bar 32 and journaled on the lower portion of the standards 21 are pinions 33which are respectively engaged with the rack bars 32. In order to malntain the arms29 in sliding engagement with fthe standards 21, I have provided each standard 2l with op sitely disposed guide plates 34 and 34, t e rear edge portions thereof being inwardly flanged as at 35 and 35 for engagements in corresponding grooves 36 andf36 formed in` the associated carrier arm .29. Thus by means of the rack and inion connections between the arms 29 an the standards21, I have provided a vmeans for maintaining the pin carrying frame A in a horizontal plane 4111, a lateral direction.

In order to provide means for lifting :the frame A andior releasi the same atfa predetermined elevation, I `1avepjournaled between the arms 28, a roller 37 over which a hoisting cable 38 is laid, one end of the cable ixedly connected centrally to a tie bar 39 which connects the arms 29 of the frame A,

fixed] secured to the larger cylinder 40 o a win ing and unwinding drum 41. This drum is journaled upon a bracket 42 which is .sus

pended from the horizontal arms 2,8. Fixed l to the drum `41 is a ratchet 43 and co-operating with this ratchet is a locking -pawl 44,

said pawl being fulcrumed intermediate its ends as at 45 tosaid bracket 42. The awl is normally urged downwardl into loc .'ng engagement with the ratchet y ymeans of a spring 45 and a hand-cord 46 is connected to the other end of said pawl for releasing the pawl from engagement' with thefratchet wheneverdesired -to release the winding cylinder 40 `and thereby permit. the pin carrying frame Ato drop by gravity onto the when it is desired to elevate the frame A, the

operator pulls downwardly upon the cable 48 unwinding the latter from the smaller cylinder 47 and simultaneously winding .the cable 38 upon the larger cylinder 40. As a result of this, the vertical movement of the cable 48 will be considerably less than the vertical movement of the cable 38.

In order to maintain the carrier A in a horizontal plane in a fore and aft direction, I have provided a flexible connection such as a cable 49 and 50 which is connected at one end to the front part of the frame A, and at its other end to a counterweight 51. This cable 49 and 50 passes over suitable rollers i 52 journaled on the arms 28 of the support B.. I preferably inter-pose an adjustable block between the cable 49 and 50 so as to permit an adjustment in the length of the cable being .made to thereby position the frame A in a horizontal plane in a fore and aft direction. I preferably extend this cable section 50 over a roller 54 and connect the end thereof to the tie bar 39.` As a result of the above construction it will be seen that the counterweight moves downwardly as the frame A is liftedv and conse quently the labor incident to the lifting operation will be comparatively small.

It is believed that my invention, its construction, mode of operation and many of y its inherent advantages will be understood and appreciated. from the foregoing without further description, but it should be manifestI that the details of construction illustrated and described may be varied within Wide limits without departing from the essence of my invention as defined in the following claims.

I claim: 1. Ina pin setting device, a pin-carrying frame having a plurality ofv egress openings for the pins, and means associated with the respective openings l for temporarily retaining said pins in co-operative relation 55 i with saidl openings whereby said pins through their inertia will be caused to be projected downwardly through said openings upon impact of the frame against the floor. i

2) In a pin setting device, a pin-carrying frame having a plurality of egress kopenings for the pins, and means including an upwardly extending guide associated with the respective openings for temporarily retaining said pins in co-operative relation with said openings whereby said pinsthrough their inertia will be caused to be projected downwardly through said openings upon impact of the frame against the floor.

y 3. Ina pin setting device, a pin-carrying frame having a plurality of egress openings for the pins, and meansl including a spring seat associated with the respective openings for .temporarily retaining said pins and whereby said pins under their inertia will be caused to be projected downwardly through said openings upon impact ofthe frame against the floor.

4. In a pin setting device, a pin-carrying frame having a plurality of egress openings for the pins, and means including an upwardly extending guide and a co-operating spring seat associated with the respective openings for temporarily retaining said pins in co-operative relation with said openings whereby said pins will be caused to be projected downwardly through said openings upon impact of the frame against the floor. p

5. In a pin setting device, a pin-carrying frame comprising a surrounding wall, a shelf carried by said wall and formed with a plurality of openings, and a tubular guide disposed in each opening for permitting egress of the associated pin, each guide having a portion projecting above and a portion projecting belo`w said shelf and cut laway to form a receiving mouth for said ,ing a portion projecting above said shelf and cut away to forma receiving mouth for said pin, and a downwardly yieldable seat mounted on the frame adjacent each opening for temporarily supporting said pin with its butt end in the mouth of said guide.

7. In a pin setting device, a pin-carrying frame comprising a surrounding wall, a

shelf carried by said wall andformed with a plurality of openings, a tubular guide dis-v posed in each opening for permitting egress portionprojecting above said shelf and'cut away to form a receiving mouth for said pin, a downwardly yield'able seat mounted on the frame adjacent each opening for temporarily supporting said pin with its butt end in the mouth of said guide, and a top plate disposed above said seats and formed with openings which respectively register with said guides and seats, the length of the opening being less than thel length of the pin whereby the head of the pin may be supported by said -top plate.

of the associated pin, each guide having a 8. In a pin setting device, the combination with a support, of a vertically movable pin-carrying frame associated with said support, and means connecting said support and frame-for maintaining theI latter in a horizontal plane both laterally and fore and aft throughout its vertical movements, said means including rack and pinion connections for maintaining said frame in a horizontal plane in one direction, and adjustable flexible connection for maintaining said frame in a horizontal plane in the other` direction. c

9. In a pin setting device, the combination with a support, of a vertically movable pin-carrying frame associated with said support, and means connecting said support and frame for maintaining the latter in a horizontal plane both laterally and fore and aft throughout its vertical movements, said means including rack and pinion connections for maintaining said frame in a horizontal in the other direction, means for lifting said frame, and a releasable latch for holding said frame in its lifted position.

10. In a pin setting device, the combination with a support including a pair of spaced standards, of a vertically disposed rack bar fixed to the upper end of each standard, a pinion'l journaled on the lower `end of each standard, a pin-carrying frame including a pair of upwardly extending arms, pinions journaled on said arms for engagement with said rack bars', rack bars fixed to said arms and engageable with said first mentioned pinions, and means for lift-- ing said pin-setting frame.

1,1. In a pin setting device, the combination with a support including a pair of spaced standards, of a vertically disposed rack bar fixed -to the upper end of each standard, a pinion journaled on the lower end of each standard, a pin-carrying frame including a pair of upwardly extending arms, pinions journaled on said arms for engagement with said pin setting frame, and a releasable latch for holding said frame in its lifted position.

12. In a pin setting device, the combination with a support including a pair of 'spaced standards, of a vertically disposed rack bar fixed to the upper -end of each standard, a pinion journaled on the lower end of each standard, a pin-carrying frame including a pair of upwardly extending arms, pinions journaled on said arms for engagementwith said rack bars, rack bars fixed to said `arms and engageable with said first mentioned pinions, and a manually operable flexible 'connection between the support and frame for lifting the latter.

`13. In a pin setting. device, the combination with a support ,including a pair of spaced standards, of a vertically disposed rack bar fixed to the upper end of each standard, a pinion journaled on the lower end of each standard, a pin-carrying frame including a pair of upwardly extending arms, pinions journaled on said arms for engagement with said rack bars, rack bars fixed to said arms and engageable with said first mentioned pinions, a horizontal tie bar connecting said arms, and a manually operable flexible connection .between the support and the center of said tie barv for lifting said frame.

14. In a pin setting device, the combination with a support including a standard and a forwardly extending horizontal arm, of rollers supported on said arm, a pin carrying frame disposed below said arm and having at its rear side vertical sliding engagement with said standard, counterweight disposed in rear of said frame, a cable extending o-ver said rollers and hav'- ing one end connected to said counterweight and its other end connected to the front side of said frame, and means for lifting said frame. i

15. In a pin setting device, the combina-- tion with a support including a standard and a forwardly extending horizontal arm, of rollers supported on said arm, a pin carrying frame disposed below said arm and having at its rear side vertical sliding engagement with said standard, said sliding engagement including a rack and pinion connection between the frame and the standard, a counter-weight disposed in rear of said frame, a cable extending over said rollers and having one end connected to said counterweight and having its other end connected to the front side of said frame, and a manually operable fiexible connection between the support and the frame for lifting the latter. l

16. In a pin setting devicethe combina-'- tion with a support including a standard and a forwardly extending horizontal arm,

'weight disposed-in rear of'said frame, a

cable extending over certain of said rollers and having one end connected to said counterweight and its other end connected to the front side of said frame, and a manually 0perable fiexible connection between the support and the frame for lifting the latter, said manually operable connection including a differential drum journaled on the support, a cable extending over certain of said rollers and having one end connected to said frame and other to one cylinder of said drum, a hand-operated cable connected to the other cylinder of said drum, and a releasable latch o o-operating with said drum to hold the frame in its liftedposition.

17'. In a pin setting device, a pin-carrying frame having a' plurality of egress openimpact vof the frame against the Hoor, ings for the pins, meansl associated with the means for vertically moving said frame, and respective openings for temporarily retainmeans for maintaining said frame in a horil0 ing said pins in (Jo-operative relation with Zontal plane both laterally and fore and aft 5 said openings whereby said pins through throughout its vertical movement.

their inertia will be caused to `lie-projected 1 p downwardly .through said openings upon ABEND WICHERTJES. 

